Aston Villa defender Neil Taylor is on the brink of making a first team return from injury in what will be a boost to Dean Smith and the first team.
The Welsh international has been the first choice left back under the manager when fully fit but was forced to sit out the 1-0 defeat to Brentford in midweek, Kortney Hause taking his place.
However, as confirmed by the club’s official Twitter account, the 30-year-old is on the brink of a full recovery , although Tom Carroll is said to be a big doubt and James Chester, Axel Tuanzebe and Jack Grealish remain out of action ahead of the clash versus West Brom on Saturday.
The boss provides an injury update ahead of tomorrow's clash with West Brom ??
Press conference replay ? https://t.co/5H6to2lMn5#PartOfThePride #AVFC pic.twitter.com/m3fv6I5bZR
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) February 15, 2019
Opinion
Injuries have decimated Aston Villa’s hopes of success this season and you just have to look at the three missing men to see the sort of quality that Smith is missing from his side. If everyone was fully fit there is little doubting that Grealish, Chester and Tuanzebe would be named among the match day squad, if not all in the starting XI. Losing one is a bitter pill to swallow but to have two or three out just slashes their chances of picking up the results they want. Taylor might not be everyone’s cup of tea at Villa Park but it is quite clear that Smith trusts him on the left hand side of defence. His return should bring balance back to the team, not to mention actually having a natural talent in the role rather than a makeshift option try and plug the gap. The game against West Brom is one that the fans will be desperate to win not only for the three points but for bragging rights over their midlands rivals and so Smith has to make sure he puts out a side who are capable of taming the Baggies’ potent attacking line up.